what's the best way to clean engine bay ?

[whatheheck]

There really isnt very many parts and connections you need to cover so this is really no big deal. Takes 15 minutes.

Here are my recommendations:

Cover your HID ballasts, HID connections, and HID bulbs. Believe me, I know this first hand as after I washed my 2000 540i five years ago (I didnt cover anything), started the car, turn the headlights on, the headlights no longer worked. Ballast quit working on one side, HID bulb burned out on the other side.

Moisture also accumulated inside the headlight assemblies. I dont recommend pressure washer or high water pressure.

Cover with plastic or saran wrap the entire passenger side A/C filter which houses the ECU and all sorts of connections inside. You accidentally get water in there and you will be asking for trouble.

Any other exposed connectors, wrap them in saran wrap. That's it. Again, this is playing it safe trying to avoid issues later.

Never wash your engine hot.

I dont recommend aluminum tape. Aluminum tape is very conductive. If you get water trapped underneath the aluminum tape, and you forget to remove it once you're done washing your engine - I dont know what will happen.

I will post photo when I come back from vacation.

Originally Posted by ks7827

Dan - For us newbies, how about posting a picture of which parts of the engine bay we need to cover before we hose it down? Thanks.

I vote for this thread to be in the FAQ.

[ard]

Ocean- I like that you've managed to save the sticker on the dip stick.

I took mine off and put it in the glove box.

Adam

[Sebring NL]

+1 Dan.


Just remember..Just because someone makes it through the first two rounds of russian roulette, its still no proof that the gun isn't loaded!!

[M5CCIE]

Originally Posted by ard

Ocean- I like that you've managed to save the sticker on the dip stick.

I took mine off and put it in the glove box.

Adam

What was that sticker all about?

[Hawkwind]

Originally Posted by whatheheck

Again, I do not recommend petroleum based engine cleaner such as Gunk. Your engine will smell for months.

Use Scrubbing Bubbles. So easy to use, spray on, hose off. Odor is much much reduced, the smell burns off in about a day.

I used to use Gunk and my engine would smell for weeks.

No argument that Gunk smells. My question was whether the cleaning process reduces the "normal" smell that comes from a hot engine that hasn't been cleaned, which gives the garage a nice oily fragrance.

Have a great vacation!

[Hawkwind]

Originally Posted by ard

Ocean- I like that you've managed to save the sticker on the dip stick.

I took mine off and put it in the glove box.

Adam

That's hilarious. Most of us who bought our cars second-hand missed out on that sticker.

[EM5PWR]

Originally Posted by M5CCIE

What was that sticker all about?

It tells you the right way to check the oil.. Btw I still have mine on still..

[ard]

Originally Posted by fast4door

It tells you the right way to check the oil.. Btw I still have mine on still..

So it means you are really careful.

Or

You've never removed the dipstick!




Couldn't resist...

A

[whatheheck]

The cleaning process cleans your entire engine bay, free from oil and grease deposits, and washes away caked on dust.

When you get done, if you use scrubbing bubbles as cleaning agent, the engine compartment will smell good.

Thanks for the well wishes. My wife and I are going on a two week Mediterannean Cruise so that should be fun and relaxing, except I will miss my beast.

Originally Posted by Hawkwind

No argument that Gunk smells. My question was whether the cleaning process reduces the "normal" smell that comes from a hot engine that hasn't been cleaned, which gives the garage a nice oily fragrance.

Have a great vacation!

[Ocean's M5]

Originally Posted by ard

So it means you are really careful.
OrYou've never removed the dipstick!

Couldn't resist...
A

I thought that thing with the red circle and sticker was important! So that's used to check the oil...

This board is great! Thanks again

:p :p :p

hahaha You know that sticker is made of some bendable plastic or similar, and I have left it on like those guys do when they leave a price tag on when they buy a new baseball hat...

I wonder if there is a part number for it?

It basically reads:

Idle for 15 seconds
Wait one minute
Check oil

Then it says the same thing on the other side in german